The X's And O's Of Life

You have probably heard the phrase “living on a budget” quite a bit. This quote defines the struggle of your everyday working-class citizen. After all, we have expenses to take care of every day. From groceries and gas money to rent and utilities, we need to make our money do the most it can.

Even when we try to get the most our of our dollar, we can still run into pitfalls that cost us more than we may realize – and find ourselves needing assistance to hold out until payday. So how can we be financially responsible and conserve our cash? By setting a budget. And you can do it easily with these five fundamental tips.

1. Know your income. Take a very realistic look at how much you bring home each month, as this will be your starting point. By understanding how much money you have access to, you can more easily plan out how much you will spend and how much you should put back to save. Remember to account for taxes and any amount withdrawn from your pay.

2. Keep track of your spending. Whenever you buy or pay for anything, write it down or otherwise record it. Simply trying to memorize it can be unreliable. And don’t just keep up with big purchases – jot down every instance of spending, because even small spending can add up.

3. Find ways to spend less money. Most of the time, there are cheaper alternatives to things we pay for. Do you buy one brand of laundry detergent when there is an equivalent that costs less? Do you frequently buy movies or music that you rarely enjoy? By minimizing any unnecessary spending, you can free up funds that can be used at a later date for an important occasion.

4. Be honest and diligent. You will be tempted to feel that it’s not so important to keep track of your finances. It can feel like a lot of work and seem intimidating. But it is absolutely necessary. Stick to it, and your bottom line will look better over time.

5. Know why you’re doing it, and have a goal. Understanding the reason for a spending plan – that it is there to show you where you can spend less and save more – will help you work towards it. And having a goal to pursue – such as buying a house or taking a vacation – will help motivate you for the times when it gets tough.

Successful money management is a journey that can have its ups and downs, though not without options to help us get back on track. And an effective budget can become the road map to help us get where we want to be financially.

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council’s report an average American household is throwing away an equivalent of $2,275 per year. The causes of food wasting are complex, including grocery stores with abundancy in their displays that results in spoilage, as well as customers being served with large portions both at home and restaurants. Most people are just not aware of the proper ways to store food and possibly extend its shelf life. Wasted food doesn’t only mean wasted money of a store or a household; it also results in wasted natural resources, such as energy and water, transportation and food storage. If you are conscious about saving your own money and the planet too, take a look at some possible ways to stop wasting food.

1. Take time and make a shopping plan. Check your fridge and pantry to see what is about to expire, what exactly you need to buy and how much. Make a shopping list and never go to the store hungry, so that you can avoid grabbing stuff that you actually don’t need. Plan what you are going to eat during the week and prepare what you can in advance. Mind portioning; it is good both for your budget and waistline.

2. Store food properly in the fridge or freezer. Invest in some must-have kitchen appliances, such as a vacuum sealer. There are many ways to use it, as with its help foods are stored up to five times longer. All you need to do is just to portion meats, fish, fruits or vegetables, vacuum seal them, and place them in the fridge or freezer. You can store even leftover soups and stews, as well as foods with a longer shelf life, such as rice, spaghetti, cookies and chips, preserved from moist, mold and mites. Now you know that you can buy foods in bulk even if your family is small. A pressure cooker can help you to cook delicious meals in different ways with the products that have been on your shelves for a long time. Look through the food recipes to cook new meals from the groceries you store in your kitchen.

3. If you know that you are not going to eat that can of beans, consider donating it to food banks before it expires. They are always in need of canned soup, canned meats, cereal, peanut butter, etc. Contact your local food bank to help solve hunger in your community.

4. Label all the packages, zipper plastic bags and vacuum sealed bags with the date you close them on. Keep a chart on food expiration dates on your fridge so that you know when is the “deadline” for cooking and eating this or that product.

5. Consider new ways of using the produce. It doesn’t have to be thrown just because it’s reaching the end of its peak. Use bananas and soft fruit for smoothies, and vegetables for the soup. Or they can be used for making delicious, nutritious juices.

Probably you won’t eliminate food wasting completely, but you can make a big difference following these steps. Remember that by preserving food you preserve our planet’s precious resources as well as save on your budget.

Need a word of advice but no idea who to turn to? We sometimes find ourselves in situations where we feel upset or troubled but confiding in the people around us just does not sound like a good idea. Well, although the advice on the internet should always be filtered, it does provide some help or even some comfort. So, what kind of advice does the internet offer us?

Relationship advice

Relationships don’t only refer to two people who are married or dating. The word “relationship” includes parents, siblings and even friends. Here are a few words of advice that you may find useful:

1. Always communicate. Healthy relationships involve people who understand the beauty in not being afraid to voice their opinions. Discussions allow the other person to see your point of view while allowing you to see theirs. Through this process, the both of you will learn to be a little more understanding and it will allow the relationship to grow and to mature.

2. Be willing to apologize. There is probably nothing more poisonous than an ego that prevents you from being genuine and vulnerable with your partner or family member. It is important to remember that they are not out to hurt you; in fact, you both have the same target in mind and that is to make this relationship a peaceful and loving one. Therefore, in the event of an argument, be willing to take a step back and say “I’m sorry” when an apology is due.

3. Do not hold grudges. Bringing up the past and allowing an old mistake to fuel present anger will do no good for any relationship. Allow past mistakes to be turned into life lessons and be willing to laugh at old silly mishaps together.

Most high school graduates find themselves unsure of which career line best suits them. They then often end up in a line of work that is not suited for their personality due to immense pressure from parents with expectations that their children have a sound plan for their lives as soon as possible. All this can be a little (VERY) overwhelming for both parents and students so here are some tips that should ease the stress!

1. List out all fields of interest and career prospects

2. Do your own research on those fields. Find out which universities offer which courses, find out course fees, living costs and employability

3. You may choose to eliminate courses that have almost zero job potential in your home country. If you hope to work abroad after graduation, find out immigration policies

4. Narrow down your choices to three items and find out greater detail such as course duration, course structure and entry requirements

5. Have a family discussion and come to a decision that everyone can agree with!

There are times we all feel as though there is more money going out than coming in. Looking for ways to cut expenses is one way to make your money go farther but you will usually be more successful if you also find a way to bring in some extra cash. Even if your income is sufficient for you to get by comfortably, it is always a good idea to have a little extra something for emergencies or for things you might want or need in the future.

The saying that “time is money” has been around for so long that it is a normal part of our everyday language. Few people really think about what that means. There are only so many hours in the day that you can work or engage in other money-making activities. Start thinking in terms of whether or not you are getting the best possible value from your time or whether you might be better off to go in a completely new direction.

There are many ways that you can supplement your income. You might start your own home business on the internet. There are many options from professional blogging to starting an online store. Some people go on the search for valuable items at yard and estate sales and then sell them on internet auction sites like eBay. Keep in mind that you will have to have enough available time and resources to get started purchasing items before you can move on to the selling phase.

Another option is to start a home business that provides a service to local customers. You may want to provide lawn care, childcare services, or become a dog walker. Even if your business is not based on the internet, you will need to have a computer with a good program (like my pc backup) for storing your database of customer information and performing local internet marketing to help your new business grow.

Regardless of the type of business you decide to start, you should do your research to determine if there is a demand or if there is already a sea of competition. One of the advantages of working on the internet is that it opens you up to a world of potential customers. On the other hand, a disadvantage is that there is a growing number of similar businesses that make it challenging to be at the top.

It is possible to get a part-time job close to home that will fit into your time frame and supplement your income but these jobs are not as readily available as they once were. Before you take a job at the local drive-in restaurant for minimum wage, think about the value of your time and what other options you may have available that will provide you with more income with less of your time invested.

Different solutions are right for different people. You may need to switch jobs, charge more for the services you already provide or take advantage of a new income opportunity that is made available to you. Evaluate the options available and consider what it will really take to make your financial life more comfortable. Stop making excuses as to why you can’t make more money and take action to turn your situation around.

It finally happened. Your trusty car, which has reliably gotten you from Point A to Point B, finally gave out on your way back home. It can be saved, but it’s going to need some things – a new alternator, some work on the engine and radiator, maybe more. You’ll need to get it done pretty soon, because it’s your only means of getting to work and you can’t afford to miss a lot of days. The real problem is that, well, you’re short on cash and you won’t be getting paid until next week.

The problem you have just seen is one of many kinds that catch us by surprise. There are plenty more, and they can push you to seek alternate means of funding. Maybe you had to go get a payday loan to make your cash stretch longer for the here and now, or even borrow from family or friends. If this is where you find yourself, here are two things to remember on how to make your dollar last longer with supplemental funding.

For example, let’s say you have a one-off sort of issue that needs to dealt with. It could be something like an important bit of home repair or the car situation we read earlier. The key to using your borrowed funds here is to take care of the issue right away. If you wait to handle it, you could be tempted to spend your money on something that you don’t need. The longer it takes for you to use your money for the issue at hand, the more likely it is that you’ll use it for something else – and possibly dig yourself into a financial hole as a result.

Another situation could be that the money isn’t needed for a particular problem, but it is simply needed to hold out until the next paycheck. Perhaps you want to be sure that you have enough to cover basic needs and expenses for the time being. If this is the case, the first thing to remember is to not spend it quickly. You need to make your money last until payday, which may mean tightening your belt and going without certain things you would normally buy. Once again, not sticking to this bit of advice can make your situation even worse than it may have been originally.

Whatever the matter at hand, management of funds is critical when you are using supplemental funding to aid your primary source of income. Money is not at all difficult to mishandle – there are so many things to spend it on, and chances are that they will surface right around the time that you receive your loan. Handle your money according to the situation you borrowed it for, and you’ll be able to make your dollar last longer with supplemental funding.

The job of a paralegal is a way to break into a career involving law. A paralegal can give you great insight into the functions of a law firm, and a good insight on a variety of law cases. What is a paralegal, and how is it different from a lawyer, and a legal secretary. What is the pay involved, and how long does it take to become a paralegal?

What is a Paralegal?

A Paralegal can be described, as someone who basically assists a lawyer in preparation of a case. The American Bar Association defined it as a person qualified, and employed by a lawyer, law office, but also a corporation, governmental agency, or any other entity that performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. Many paralegals may take on different responsibilities depending on where they work. The basic duties of a Paralegal are the following:

1. Contact and interview clients

2. Do research for a case

3. Draft documents

The great thing about being a paralegal is, it is not required to have a college degree to break into the field. You will need to become certified though at some point. If you have a four-year degree, or an associate’s degree it is easy to become certified in a brief period time. In some parts of the country, you can become certified in a year working under the supervision of an attorney if you have a four-year degree; it may take a little longer, if you have an associate’s degree. If you do not have a college degree, it may take up to three years to become certified. It will be necessary to take college courses online, or at a local college; make sure it an accredited institution. The cost will be about $7,000, and you will need about 32 hours of classroom hours. There are also two associations that are able to approve your certification if you meet the voluntary standards, and pass the examinations put forth by the associations; those would be:

1. National Association Of Legal Assistants (NALA)

2. National Federation Of Paralegal Associations (NFPA)

These examinations put forth are not to be confused with examinations, which are put forth by an accredited college.
There are number things that a paralegal by law are not able to do that falls strictly on a lawyer. Those would be:

1. Establish the attorney-client relationship

2. Give Legal Advice

3. Sign legal papers and pleadings on behalf of the party

4. Appear in court on behalf of another (i.e. the client)

5. Set and collect fees for legal services

The differences between a paralegal and a legal secretary is that a legal secretary does have basic understanding of legal terms; and has the specific formatting that is required by a court, or public agency. The paralegal also does much of the clerical work; indexing, and filing cases.

The Salary of a Paralegal

The salary of a paralegal can vary depending on three things:

1. The level of education

2. The place of residency

3. The amount of experience

The average salary is roughly about $47,570 for a certified paralegal. A paralegal working for a major law firm, and has a level of experience can make as much as $60,000 annually. The wages in the areas that have the highest annual salaries vary between $53,230 – $73,050.

The Duties And Pay Of A Paralegal Credit Picture License:lism. via photopincc

If you are contemplating a change of career, or perhaps you are about to start college and aren’t yet sure of what you want to do, the profession of paralegal might not be the first career that comes to mind. It is a fairly common job but one which isn’t particularly well known. At least, many people don’t know what exactly a paralegal does on a regular day to day basis, even if they know that paralegals exist and function as some form of legal professional. It might be overlooked as a career option simply because people are uncertain of what a paralegal is, how much money they make, or what the working conditions are like. This would be a mistake. Paralegals often have very rewarding careers, don’t need a lot of qualifications, and can make a reasonable salary.

A Paralegal can have a very broad job description. Opportunities to perform many tasks will appear throughout the year, depending on what the law firm or legal department is doing at any given time. Drafting contracts for employees and shareholders or researching how laws might affect the company are two of the more common tasks for paralegals who work in the legal department of large corporations. Meanwhile a paralegal hired by a law firm will spend most of their time helping lawyers with the cases they are working on. This could be done by investigating relevant laws or perhaps through handling evidence and taking detailed notes in court. The key thing to remember is that while paralegals have a lot of responsibility they are always, ultimately, under the supervision of fully qualified lawyers. Paralegals can’t legally offer their service directly to the public but must always work alongside lawyers.

If this sounds like the kind of work you might be interested in then you are probably wondering what kind of qualifications are needed to become a paralegal. The answer is surprisingly short. Two years spent studying for an associate’s degree is all that will be required in terms of formal higher education. If you already have a related bachelors degree then you will be able earn a certificate in paralegal studies over a far shorter amount of time. With this associate’s degree and a small amount of work experience in a legal setting getting hired shouldn’t prove too much trouble since the number of employment opportunities for paralegals is growing considerably faster than the national average job creation.

Not only is it relatively easy to qualify as a paralegal but the pay is also something which attracts many people to the profession. The median annual pay for paralegals was $46,990 in 2012. A Paralegal who works for the federal government can anticipate an average salary of over $60,000 in addition to the possibility of some help paying off whatever student loan debts have been incurred during their years of study.

In short the paralegal profession is an attractive career option for anyone interested in working in a legal setting. It offers not only a varied and interesting work day but a fairly generous salary to go with it. However the main advantage of this career is that it offers people who don’t have the time or financial resources to become a lawyer, which requires seven or more years of studying, the opportunity to work as a legal professional.

When applying for a loan the likelihood that there will be a credit check is pretty much a given. There will usually be a time in your life you will need to take out a loan to purchase an automobile, or a home. In many jobs the employer will possibly want to check your credit; for many this can be unsettling. How can you improve your credit in order to obtain a loan?

With job security still at risk in any areas of the country, and many that do have jobs, but they are anything but self-sustaining, and have a high turnover rate. It does not take much to ruin your credit. When it comes to improving your credit in order to obtain a loan what are some steps?

One of the first things to do is to talk to reputable counselor, one that will be able to look at your situation, and give you sound practical advice. The counselor will usually look at your history, and your current credit score; from there, the counselor will advise strategies in order to improve your credit. It also helps to monitor your score, and there are many websites, which are free where you can monitor your score.

When it comes to debt, it is imperative to clear any outstanding you may have; if you have had to file for bankruptcy bring this up with the counselor. When you file for bankruptcy, it will not doom you, but this will be taken into consideration, when you apply for a loan.

When your debt is cleared, it is a step in the right direction, but this will not improve your score. One way to improve your score is to apply for a credit card. This is something that has been promoted by a number of high profile people. I personally think this can work, but I would be cautious; the reason being you need to pay it back on time. It is imperative to check what is the interest rate, and do not get a card with a high limit. If you’re in a job that is low paying, and there is not much in regards to job security, this may not be a good strategy.

If it will take time to improve your credit, and you need a loan you could possible approach a credit union. If you’re a member of one, and have a solid history, they may be able to help you secure a short-term loan. Credit unions are very good at helping their members, and there are advisors on hand to help with any questions.

The final thing could be a secured loan. If you have property, stocks, or bonds; this could be used as collateral. But it is important to you pay them back in the required time frames. If you have solid employment, this may be an option to consider. Talk with a reputable option to see if this is possible.

Getting a loan with bad credit can be a challenge, but don’t be desperate as it’s still possible. You are not the only one with this problem now, many Australians have their credit ratings dropped and lenders have to adjust to this situation. Let’s see some of the possible ways of getting a loan of any kind with a low credit score.

1. Constantly try improving your credit. Even if you fell behind with the payments before, now you have to show your potential lender that you are responsible and working on paying your debts in a timely fashion. With this approach your credit situation can get a whole lot better just within six months, so if you can wait before you get a loan, this might be a good way for you. Show the creditor that you have a reliable source of income and can keep up with the payments.

2. Contact a financial counsellor regarding your credit situation. They can help you in many ways, including negotiating payment arrangement with your creditors, explaining your options and their consequences, checking if you are eligible for government assistance and others. Financial Counselling Australia and Australian Securities & Investments Commissions offer a free service in helping you to deal with your money matters and possibly getting a loan.

3. Consider a community program to help you. In Australia there are some non-profit organizations that specialize in offering no interest and low-interest loans for low-income households. With Good Shepherd you are not going to be able to get a home loan, but you can get few hundred dollars right away that can be repaid over three years.

4. Apply for a secured loan.If you possess any property you might secure the loan to it. This will definitely make the lender be more inclined to approve your application however it includes a risk to lose the collateral for you, so you need to make sure you will be able to pay make necessary payments within required timeframes. You can also have a co-signer with good credit to help you out who is not afraid of this responsibility.

5. Apply to a lender that specializes in the situation like yours. While mainstream creditors are most likely to decline your application because of the risks associated with your paying ability, there exist other programs from lenders who are going to get their benefits from you. They have higher interest rates and fees associated with the loan and probably its amount will be limited, however you can apply online and get the money deposited to your account promptly. Don’t forget to pay attention to the fees and ratings, as you probably are not familiar with these organizations; applying to such lenders should be the last resort in case you can’t find any other way. Seek financial advice if needed.

Do not submit many applications with different lenders if you are rejected, as it can only lower your credit report. If you get a loan and manage to pay it off, you will make a big step towards repairing your credit that can help you to get a loan again in future with a better interest rate.

With the number of guns raising in the USA the demand of a place to store them safely has never been so high. One of the best options is buying a gun safe that will not only store them locked but also protect them from the unauthorized access of children or other individuals. A quality safe will provide you with a fast, easy and silent access to your weapon in case you will really need it.

Since there is a great variety of gun safes you need to take into consideration things like: the size and dimensions of a safe, the place where it’s going to be stored, materials, locking mechanisms, and of course your budget. Heavy safes with a steel door and walls are more recommended than the lightweight ones for the purposes of better fire protection. Modern safes have many different features, and depending on the amount of money you are willing to spend and your needs you can choose from: waterproof, fireproof and even biometric safes. Maybe you want all these features combined for better security, it’s all up to you.

Let’s have a closer look at biometric gun safes. They provide the highest level of security because only you personally are going to be able to open them. Such safes will give the access to what’s inside only after recognizing the structure of the authorized user’s retina, fingerprints, or the shape of the hand or face.

Most popular biometric safes are fingerprint-based, which are most affordable too, but the best are the ones that are using a retinal scan, because fingers can get cut or burnt easily. A few of the most popular brands include SentrySafe, BARSKA, Stack-On and others. Some of them possess really attractive features, e.g. SentrySafe has a whisper-quiet hardware, so you won’t be heard opening it in an emergency situation.

Fire endurance is a unique feature this brand offers for some specific models too. Some BARSKA safes can store up to 120 fingerprints and almost all of them have back-up keys. The Stack-On brand is considered to be one of the most affordable and reliable at the same time. Some safes also come together with an electronic lock, so there’s more ways to get in. If you wish to store more one gun, look for the models that have a shelf included. If money isn’t an issue you can opt for the gun safes with wood-paneled interiors and art works on the outside, offered by such manufacturers as Fort Knox and Browning.

Before buying a gun safe, take a closer look at reviews and ratings left by customers on amazon.com and other online companies. Don’t neglect the negative comments, as they can open your eyes to some of the flaws, e.g. you need to wipe the glass off after the safe scans your fingers, some gun safes just get locked after using them a couple years and you won’t be able to open them. Pay attention to the warranty terms, offered by the manufacturer, in case you need some parts to be replaced or if it stops functioning right.